Card-sorting machine



July 2, 1929. G D MARCY CARD SORTING MACHINE 5 Sheets--Sheet` l Filed Deo. 30, 1925 A TTORNEY Y B UW-;

f. %I i PV Lili ,nl l 6 July 2, 1929. G. D. MARCY 1,719,334

' CARD SORTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 30, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Juil? 2, 1929a an. MARQY Lwff GARD SORTING MACHINE.

Filed. Dec. 30, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet` 5 'e6 w /M/E/VTQR July 2, 1929. G, D, MARCY 1.719.334

CARD SORTING MACHINE Filed D60. 30, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 so l? E .70

/NVENTORY BY W " ATTORNEY Juy 2, 1929. G. D. MARCY CARD SORTING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Dec. 50, 1925 INVENTOR.

rfa ATTORNEY.

Y alphabetically, geographically,

Patented July 2, 1929..

PATENT OFFICE. Y'

GROSVENOR D. MARCY, OI NEWTON HIGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS.

canin-soumise MACHINE.

Application filed December 30, 1925. Serial No.i78,474.

4 'llhis invention relates to sorting machines, more especially machines for sorting cards or according to any other system.

` Concerns which make a business of compiling directories, mailing lists,

usually iind it most convenient to record their data and information on cards and these cards subsequently are sorted and arranged alphabetically, geographically, according to industries, or in various other ways, depending upon the particular use to be made of the information obtained. This requires the frequent sorting of great numbers of cards. `It is the chief object of the present invention to devise a machine with the aid of which this work can be done quickly, economically and accurately.

ll am aware that there are now on the market machines for automatically sorting cards which require alperforated or notched card.

Such machines are very satisfactory for some purposes, but they are quite limited inthe Cil number of distributions that they'can make. For example, one such machine can sort to lonly thirteen positions so that it is necessary to run a given collection of cards through the machine at leastV twice in order tovsort to the entire alphabet. Under many circumstances, also, it is more economical to sort cards manually than,to make the preparations necessary to obtain the desired results from a fully automatic machine, u

With these considerations in view it 1s a further object of this invention to devise a machine which will sort to at least the entire alphabet and in which the distribution or sorting of the cards will beunder the control of an operator but will be eifected without the operator touching ori handling any of the cards. The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel .features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.,

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the greater part of a machine embodying this inven- .Figs 2 and 3 are perspective views of the card feeding and distributing mechanisms; Fig.v 4 is a perspective view ofa part of the mechanism for operating the distributor; Figs. 5 and 6 are plan and side elevations,

and the like, i

Y card delivered to it f2 that the entire. cent-ral each partly in cross section, of the card magazine and the parts adjacent thereto;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of certain of. i

key rings into operation a mechanism which feeds the foremost card in4 the magazine downwardly out of the magazine and into a card distributor. This distributor is also under the control of the keys and it guides each into a chute corresponding to the particular key which has been depressed. The chutes conduct the cards into suitable receptacles. tionof the various mechanisms of the machine will be taken lup in substantially the order in which they have just been mentioned.

The magazine is best shown in Figs. 1, 5 .and 6, and comprises two vertical side plates 2-2 spaced apart to receive a horizontal stack of cards C between them. These cards rest on two substantiallyhorizontal rails 3 3, Fig. 5, which are supported rigidly in the frame of the machine. The foremost card in the stack bears against a plate 4 at the front of the magazine which forms an abutment for the cards, and the entire stack is push'ed against this plate by a follower 5, Figs. 1 and 6, A strap 6 connected to this follower runs over-'suitable pulleys to a drum 7, Fig. 1,v which contains a coiled spring ,that tends to rotate it in a direction to wind up the strap 6, this movement being transl-mitted to the follower and pressing the follower constantly against the stack of cards, as will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 6. c y

The plate 4 performs both the functions of an abutment for tlie stack of cards and also of a feeder for the foremost card in the stack. It will be seen from an inspection of Figs'l and part of this plate is cut away so that practically all of the subject matter contained on the face of the front rangement is suchthat the depression of any The detailed descripcard is exposed to the view of the operator. The plate is mounted in suitable ways to reciprocate vertically, andthe upper part of this plate is provided with two feed fingers 8 8, Fig. 2, preferably integral with the plate. These feed fingers are offset from the rear face of the plate just far enough to strike squarely vupon the upper edge of the foremost card in the stack so that when the plate is moved downwardlythis cardwill be carried down with it out of the magazine.

In order to prevent the next adjacent -card from moving with the foremost card, two rods 111-10, Fig. 5, are mounted in the frame of the machine parallel to and closely beside the rails 3 3 with their forward. orlright-hand ends, Fig. 5, spaced just far enough from the feed plate 4 to allow one card only to pass downwardly between the plate and the ends of the rods. The rearward portions of these rods are screw-threaded through a bar 11 which forms a part of the frame so that the distance between the forward ends of the rods and the plate 4 can be adjusted very accurately.

The feed plate 4 is actuated by a coiled spring 12 which is connected to an arm 13 projecting forward from the plate. This spring normally is under tension, but the movement of the feed plate is restrained by two latches 14 and 15, Fig. 2, which engage stops 16 and 17, respectively, that are secured to the opposite edges of said plate.

As above stated, the operation of the card feeding mechanism is under the control of a keyboard. This'keyboard consists of a series' of keys 18, Fig. 1, each'mounted on the end of a key lever or bar 20. All these bars or levers are pivoted on a rod or shaft 21, Figs. 1 and 3, and each bar has connected to it a spring 22 which tends to hold it in its normal or uppermost position. The levers are guided adjacent to the keys 18 in slots formed in a ventiff-al, rigidly supported plate 26, Figs. 1 and 3.

. Each key lever 2O bears normally on a horizontal rod 27 which is supported by three arms 28, Figs. 3 and 7, all of which are rigidly secured to a horizontal pivot shaft 30. When any key is depressed the rod 27 is forced down, and this motion is transmitted through a roll 31, Fig. 7, mounted in the forward end of an arm 32 to a bar 33 which is secured to the forward ends of a U-shaped lever 34. This lever is fulerumed on horizontal screws 35 located a considerable distance back from the keyhoard, and a coiled spring 36 connected to this lever tends to hold it and the keys in their normal positions. Due to this construction the force required to operate the keysfis equalized and any tendency to twist the lever 34 by the operation of a keyA at one extreme or the other of the key board is effectually counteracted. The central part of the bar 33 rests on a roll 37, Fig. 7, which is mounted on one end of a short lever 38, the opposite end of this lever projecting into the slotted end of another lever which extends toward the rear of the machine. The arrangement 1s such that when any one of the keys 18 is depressed the left-hand end, Figs. 1 and 7, of the lever 40 also will be depressed, and this movement is utilized to trip the feed plate 4 above described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed th'at/a light rod or wire 41 connects the lever 40 with a bar 42 which is mounted to slide vertically in the frame and is located immediately beside the magazine. A dog or trip 43 is pivoted on this bar,- and when the bar 42 is moved downwardly the dog strikes an arm 44which projects rearwardly'from the latch 14, thus tripping the latch. Since the latches 14 and 15 are rigidly connected together through the rock shaft 19, both latches are released simultaneously. This allows the spring 12 to give the feeder or feed plate 4 a quickdownward movement, thus carrying the.foremost card in the magazine downwardly. As the dog`43 moves down in a straight line while the arm 44 swings about a center, the arm escapes the dog after the stops 16 and 17 have been released. When the bar later is raised during the restoring movement of the parts, the dog is swung backwardly by its contact with the arm as it passes the arm, and then is returned to its initial position again by the leaf spring 45, Fig. 2, when it has passed above the arm.

The feeding movement of the card imparted to it by the feeder 4 carries the lower edge of this card down into the grip of two pairs of feed rolls mounted immediately below the feeder. The two forward rolls 47-47 are .driven and for this purpose are secured on a shaft 48 to which a pulley 50, Fig. 1, is secured, this pulley being connected by a belt 51 to the driving pulley 52 of an electric motor 53. The two rear rolls 54-54 are normally idle but are spaced from the front rolls 47-47 by a distance slightly lessthan the thickness of a card. Both pail-sof rolls are knurled so that, they can firmly engage the opposite faces of the card and as soon as a card is entered between them they grip it and feed it downwardly until it passes out of engagement with them, the rear rolls being driven at this time through the card. These rolls 47 and 54 thus,complete the feeding movement of the card which has been initiated bythe reciprocating feeder or feed plate 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the machine includes a series of receptacles or compartments 56 for ultimately receiving the cards, these receptacles in the present instance being arranged in three vertical groups and corresponding in number to the number of keys 18. In other words, there is a. compartment 56 for each key 18. Chutes 57 guide the cards into .the receptacles` these chutes leading from their respective receptacles or compartments to a central location in the machine, with their upper or receiving ends all located side by side closely adjacent to each other and arranged in the arc of a circle, as clearly'shown in Figs. l and 3. The feed rolls just described deliver the card to a distributor which is mounted to swing across the upper ends of the chutes soas to guide the cardv into any selected chute. y Y

The distributor comprises two open framelike members of very light construction and indicated, respectively, at A and B, Figs. 2 and 3. The member A includes a thin strip of metal 58at its lower edge which is connected by three wires to a rod 60 that forms the upper edge of the member. The member B includes similar parts 61 and 62'connected together by three wires. VThe two members are hinged at their upper edges so that they can swing from an openposition, as shown in Fig. 2, to a closed position, as shown in Fig.` 3,

'At are right-hand end of the distributor a `yoke 66, Fig. 4, is provided and connects the reduced end portions 68 and 69, respectively, of the two rods 60 and 62, the yoke having a hole 70 to receive the part 68 and an elongated hole 71 to receive a roll 72 which is mounted on the part 69. A rod or wire 73 is pivoted by a bolt 74 to the central part of the yoke 66 and connects this yoke with the U- shaped lever 34 above mentioned. It will be evident that when the :forward end of this lever is tipped down, thus pullin on the wire 73, the two rods 60'and 62 will moved downwardly about their hinges orpivots 65. This will swing the vtwo members A and B of the distributor toward each other. As soon as the lever 34 is released, a spring 74, Fig. 3,

. which is connected to the yoke 66, will lift this yoke and return the two members A and B of the distributor to their initial positions. p

The same construction is providedat the opposite side of the machine, as shown 1n Fig. 2, and includes awire 75 and spring 76 corresponding, respectively, to the wire' 3 and spring 74."

As above stated, the distributor is under the control of the keys 18, and the arrange'- ment is such that when any key is depresse the distributor will be' moved into register with the chute corresponding to the key which has been operated.. It will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 3 that the key levers or bars 20 are bent beyond the pivot 21, certain of them toward the vright and certain others toward the left, and they are then eX- tended `forwardly again and bent inwardly in a reverse direction, terminating in upwardly extending tips or stops 24 which lie imme diately beside the receiving ends of the chutes. The tip 24 of each lever is located beside the chute which leads to the receptacle corresponding to the keyon the opposite end of said lever. When any one of the keys 18 is depressed, the tip or stop 24 for that particularkey is raised above the others. See, for example, the stop 24in Fig. 3. At the same time the depression of the key operates through the bars 27 and 33V and lever 34 to pull the wires 73 and 75 down and thus swing the two distributor members A and B toward each other until they .bothstrike the stop 24 which has been raised. This arrests further movement .of the distributor members, but the the feed plate 4 and caused this plate tomove the Jforemost card in the magazine down into' the grip of the feed rollers 54 and 47 and they, in turn, have fed the card down between the members A and B of the distributor. The distributor guides this card into the chute corresponding to `thekey which has been operated and the chute conducts this It will a soberemembered, that the depression of the key has tripped card into the appropriate compartment or reccptacle at its discharge end.

The foregoing operations are repeated with each operation of a key. As soon as the key which has been operated is released, it, and the levers operated thereby, are returned to -their original positions by the springs 22 and 36. The members A and B of the'distributor are swung back to their initial positions by the springs 74 and 7 6. This resets these parts in Ireadiness for the y nextV operation. It should be noted that the vdistributors A and B are `very light in weight and are soA con- 4structed that they offer very little resistance to the atmosphere so that very little effort is required to operate them." Due to the differential actionof the operating mechanism for the distributor. either one of the distributor members A or B is caused to travel farther than thev other when required to register the distributor with chutes at one side or the other of the middle of the series. Y

In addition to resetting the parts above described, it is also necessary to-reset the feeder Y 4. This is accomplished through the operation of the normally idle fee'd rolls 54-54.

shaft 5 5 on which they are mounted carries cams 8U and 81, Figs.V 2 and 3, on oppositel ends thereof, these cams engaging rolls 82 and 83, respectively, mounted on levers 84 and 85. Consequently, as the cams revolve they raise the levers 84 and 85 into engagement with the stops or lugs 16 and 17 which are secured to the opposite 'sides of the feed plate 4, andraise thisrplateinto its initial position,

thus tensioning the spring 12 again. As soon as the feeder 4 has reached its uppermost position the latches 14 and 15 are moved under the stops 16 and 17 by the spring 89, Fig. 3, and hold the feeder in readiness for its next feeding movement.` Fig. 2 shows the feeder in the latter position with the lug 16 engaged by the latch 14, While Fig. 3 shows the feeder in its lowermost position with the lug 17 out of engagement with the latch 15.

In order to prevent any over-travel of the cams 80 and 81, a disk having a notch 86 therein, Fig. 3, is secured rigidly on the shaft andis arranged to be engaged by the lower end of a lever 87, a spring 88 act-ing on this lever' to move it into engagement with the notch 86. This lever thus stops the rotation of the shaft 55 when theoperation of restoring the feeder 4 to its initial position has been completed. When the feeder 4 is tripped by the operation of one of the keys 18, as above described, a lug 90, Fig. 3, which moves with the stop 17, strikes an extension of the lever 87 and forces the lever backward or toward the right, Fig. 3-, far enough to disengage it from the notch 86. This allows the shaft 55, with the normallyidlefeed rolls 54-54 mounted thereon, to begin to rotate as soon as the feeder has delivered a card to them.

The rotative motion of the shaft 55 is also utilized to act locally on the cards in the stack C as they approach the forward end of the stack to urge these cards forward,and

: thus counteract the friction or drag of the cards on the rails 3 3. For this purpose the shaft 55 is connected by a round belt 90, Fig. 5, to the shaft 91 at the rear of the magazine, and the latter shaft carries two driving pulleys 92-92 for belts 93-93 which run over small pulleys located immediately under and close to the front of the stack of cards C. One of these pulleys is shown at 94 in Fig. 6. After leaving the pulleys 94 the belts 93 run, respectively, over two pulleys 95 on the shaft 54 and then under belt tightening pulleys 96 back to their respective pulleys 92. These belts 93-93 are driven only while the shaft 55 is being driven and they act on the bottoms of the cards close tothe front of the magazine to take out any bend4 in the cards that may have been introduced by the dragging of their lower edges on the rails 3-3. The belts thus -assist the follower 5 in holding the cards at the front of the stack-parallel to the feed plate 4 with the foremost card atly against the feed plate and in position to slide down past the forward ends of the rods 10-10 vertical plates of celluloid, glass, or other suitable material which abut against the opchutes.

posite edges of said metal strips. The card receiving receptacles into which the chutes discharge may beconstructed in a variety of ways, but as shown they consist of a vertical side plate 97, Fig. 8, and an end plate 98, one of which preferably is of glass or other transparent material. A series of slightly inclined plates 99 abut against the plates 97 and 98, each forming the top of one compartment and the bottom of the compartment next above it. A short sheet metal plate 100 abuts against, or is secured to, the inner edge of the plate 99 and forms the inner Wall of the card compartment. This construction leaves the compartments open at one side of the machine so that the cards may conveniently be removed when the compartments have become filled or when the sorting operation is completed.

A slightly different chute construction is shown in Fig. 9 in which the chutes are made of metal strips 101, each provided with a flange 102 at its outer edge. The fiange of one strip overlaps that of the next strip in front o it, ample space being provided between the adjacent strips for the passage of a card such as that indicated at C. The overlapping edges of the flanges 102 are soldered together, it being understood that Fig. 9 shows only one side of the chute and that similar metal strips with fianges similarly disposed form the opposite side of the In other Words, the chute for each card includes two of the metal strips 101, these strips being spaced from each other so that they support and guide the opposite end vportions of the card, but leave the central portion of the card free. This construction has the advantage of avoiding the presence of any crevices or cracks in which the corners or edges of the cards might catch or stick. At the same time it is a very economical construction, and permits free access to the chutes so that the cards can be seen in flight, and in case any card lodges it can be easily removed. The operation of the machine has been so completely described above in connection with the description of construction, that any further statement as to operation is believed to be unnecessary. It will be evident from the foregoing description that this machine is of the semi-automatic type, the distribution of' the cards being entirely under the control of an operator. Preferably the key board is of the standard type used in typewriters so that any typewriter operator can also opern ate this machine. Assuming that cards are being sorted alphabetically, it is simply necessary for the operator to look at the name on the foremost card in the magazine, depress the proper key, and the machine automatically feeds that card out of the magazine and delivers it to the compartment or receptacle 56 corresponding to the key which has been depressed.

The fact that the feeder 4 gives the card a quick initial feeding movement out of its position in the magazine contributes to the vrapid and accurate distribution Vof the cards since it gives the operator a longer period o f time inwhich to see the name or other data on the face of the card. Also, the fact that each card which the operator sees remains stationary from the time her eye catches' it until she is done with it, facilitates easy operation and ensuresgreater accuracy in results.

The machine shownsorts to the entire alphabet, oi', in other words,` toV twenty-six positions. This number c an be increased somewhat if desired. When it is desired to sort the cards according to industries, geographical districts, or according to, some other system, it is simply necessary to give the keys designations appropriate to the system used. The machine thuswill handle a wide range of work, and no special preparation of the cards', such as punching or notching,is necessary in order`to enable the machine to disi tribute them. v

Having thusl described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

l. In a cardl sorting-machine, the combi,- nation of ya magazine for holding a supply of cards with thev face of the foremost card exposed to the view of the operator, a series of keys arranged to ybe operated by said operator, means for giving said foremost card a quick feeding movementiout of tlie magazine, a series ofreceptacles corresponding to said keys, and means including a distributor mechanically connected with and arranged to be actuatedy by said keys for guiding each card toward the receptacle corresponding to the particular key which is operated.

2. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cardsv to be sorted, a series of keys, a series of chutes corresponding to said keys, means under the controlof said keysffor feeding the cards one at 'a time out of said magazine, and

a distributor mechanically connected with and arranged to be actuated by the depression of any key and operative to guide a card fed froml the magazine into the chute corresponding to the key so operated.

3. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards to be sorted with the face of the fore.- most card exposed to the view of the operator, a series of keyswarranged to. be operated by said operator, means arranged to be brought into operation by the movement of any of said keys for giving said foremost card a quick feeding movement outgof its position in the magazine, a series of chiites corresponding to said keys, and means mechanically connected with and arranged tobe actuated by said keys for guiding each card fed out of the magazine into the chute corresponding to the particular key wl'iich is operated.-

Y located side by side,

.into register with any selected chute.

4. In a card sorting machine, the combilnation of a magazine for holding a supply of cards to be sorted with the face of the foremost card exposed to the view of the operator,

a series of keys arranged to be operated by said oper-ator, means for feeding cards out of the front of said magazine comprising a spring actuated feeder arranged to be tripped by the operation of any one of said keys and operative to give said foremost card a quick feeding movement, means under the control ofvsaid keysfor receiving and distributing the cards so fed, and mechanism for automatically resetting said feeder after it has been oper-.

when tripped to give the foremost card in the V magazine a quick feeding movement, and feed vrolls for receiving the card so fed and coinp'letlng its feeding movement out of the magazine; 1

6. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply. of cards to be sorted, means for feeding the cards o ne at a time out of the front\ of the magazine comprising a spring actuated feeder operative when tripped to lgive the foremost card inthe magazine a quick feeding movement, cooperating feed rolls .arranged to engage opposite faces of the card so fed and to complete the feeding thereof, the rolls engaging one face of said card being normally idle but being driven through the card by the other rolls, and mechanism arranged to be operated by said idle rolls for automatically resetting said spring actuated feeder.

7. In a sorting machine, the colnbination of a series of chutes having their receiving ends located side by side, a distributor movable over said ends of the chutes, and stops operable to arrest the movement of the distributor when itl registers with any selected chute. M

8. In a sorting machine, the combination of a series of chutes having their receiving ends a distributor comprising two members cooperating to form a gudeway between them, said members being movable toward and from each other into and out of cooperative relationship, a stop for each chut-e, and means for moving said members toward each other and into contact with opposite sides of one of said stops to bring said distributor 9. In a sorting machine, the combination of a series of chutes having their receiving ends located side by side, a distributor movable over said ends of the chutes, a series of manually operable keys corresponding in number to said chutes', and stops arrangedto be operated by the respective keys and operative to arrest the which they are separated from each other, a.

stop foreach chute, and connections between said keys land said members and stops whereby the operation of a key actuates a stop and yswings said members into engagement with opposite sides of said stop and thereby brings the distributor into register with the chiite corresponding to thekey which has been operated.

11. In a card sorting machine, adistributor comprising two open framelike members,

hinged at their upper edges to swing toward and from each other into a closed or open relationship, said members cooperating when in their closed relationship to form a card guiding chute.

12.` In a card sorting machine, a distributor comprising two open framelike members hinged at their upper edges to swing toward and from each other into a closed or open relationship, said members cooperating when in their closed relationship to form a card guiding chute, mechanism for feeding cai-ds one at a time into said distributor, and additional means for moving-said distributor into different operative ositions.

13. In a card) sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards to be sorted, a distributor comprising two open framelike members hinged to swing toward and from each other into a closed o ropen relationship, said members cooperating when closed to form a guideway for cards, a series of chutes having their receiving ends located side by side closely adjacent to the path of movement of said distributor, a series of keys corresponding to said chute, connections arranged to be actuated by said keys for swinging said members toward each other and across the ends of said chute, stops operated by said keys, each stop serving to arrest the movement of said members inposition to guide av card into the chute corresponding to the respective key for said stop, and means for feed-l ing the cards one at a timeout of said magazine and between the members of said distribui tor.

I4. In a card 4sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards to be sorted, a distributor comprising two openk framelike members hinged at their upper edges to swing toward and from each other into a closed or open relationship, said members cooperating when closed to form a guideway for cards, a series of chutes having their receiving ends located side by side closely adjacent to and below the path of movement of said distributor, a series of keys correspondj ing to said chutes, connections arranged to be actuated by said keys for swinging said members toward each other and across the ends of said chutestops operated by said keys, each stop serving to arrest the movement of said members in position to guide a card into the chute corresponding to the respective key for said stop, and feeding mechanism arranged to be brought into action by the operation of any one of said keys and operative to feed a card out of said magazine and between said members of the distributor.

15. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holdinga supply of cards to be sorted, a distributor comprising two open framelike members hinged at `theirupper edges to swing toward and from each other into a closed pr open relationship, said members cooperating when closed to form a guideway for cards, a series of chutes having their receiving ends located side by side closely adjacent tothe path of movement of said distributor, a series of keys corresponding to said chutes, connections arranged to be actuated by said keys for swinging said members toward each other and across the ends of said chute, stops operated by said keys, each stop serving to arrest the movement of said members in position to guide a card into the chute corresponding to the respective key for said stop, means for feeding the cards one at a time out of said magazine and between the members of said distributor, and means fo'r automatically returning said members and stop to their initial positions after they have been operated.

16. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a substantially horizontal magazine for holding a supply of cards, means for feeding the cards one at a time out of the front of lsai-d magazine, means for forcing the cards toward the front of said magazine, and additional and independent power opera-ted means for acting on thelower edges of the cards adjacent to the front of the magazine to urge them forward.

v 17. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards, means for feeding the cards one at a time out of the front of said magazine, and one or more belts arranged to engage the edges of the cards as they approach the forward part of the magazine and operative to urge 'said cards forward.

18. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards to be sorted, means for feeding the cards one at a time out of the front of said magazinecomprising a feeder and feed rolls between which the 'card is delivered by said feeder, said rolls being operative to continue the feeding movement of the card, certain nble toward each other into cooperative relationship and into register with any selected chute-and away from each other again out of cooperative relationshipfand operating means for said members having a dierential action to cause-one of said members to move farther than the other toregister with chutes located atl either side of the middle of said series. v

20. In a sorting machine, a distributor y comprising two open frame-like members.

arm's'secured to the upper edges of said meml bers and hinged to enable said members to swing about a common aXis linto either a closed or open relationship, said members cooperating when in their closed relationship to form a guiding chute for a' card or the like,

a yoke connecting said arms andv pivoted toy both of them, and connections with said yoke for moving it to operate `said members, and a spring Afor moving said yoke oppositely to said connections. ,e 21. In a cardsorting machine, a chute construction comprising a series of strips of metal located closelyadjacent to each other to form chutes between them, said strips hav-j ing their outer edgesbent at a considerable angle to the plane of the strip to form flanges, the flanges of one chute being secured'y to the next adjacent chute.

22. In a card sorting machine, a chute construction comprising a series of strips of metal located closely adjacent to each other to form chutes between them, said strips having their outer edges bent at a considerable angle to the plane of the strip to form anges,`the flanges of one chute being overlapped upon the flanges of the'next adjacent chute.

23. In a card sorting machine, a chute construction comprising a series of chutes arranged side by side, each chute comprising two strips of metal of angular cross-.section spaced apart to supportand guide a card by its ends, the flanges of one chute being overlapped upon the next'adjacentchute. l 24. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards with the face of the foremost card exposed to the view of the operator, a series of keys arranged to be operated by said operator, receptacles corresponding to said keys,

chutes leading, respectively, to said frecepoperated.

tacles, means mechanically controlled by said keys for feedingfthe foremost card out of the magazine, and additional means/arranged to be brought into operation by the actuation of any key to direct a card so fed into a chute corresponding to said key.

25. In a card sorting machine; the combination of a magazinerfor holding a supply of cards with the face of the foremost card exposed to the view of the operator, a series of keys arranged to be operatedby said operator, means under the control of said keys for feeding said foremost card downwardly out of the magazine, a series of chutes corresponding to said keys and having their upper ends arranged side by side below the forward end of the magazine, and a distributor under the control of said keys and arranged to receive a card fed out of the magazine and to deliver it to a chute corresponding to the key actuated, said distributor being mounted to swing across the upper ends of said chutes and above them.

26. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards with the face of the foremost card exposed to the view ofthe operator, a series of receptacles varranged' closely adjacent to each ot er'below the magazine, chutes lea'ding to said receptacles -for guiding cards by gravity into the respective receptacles, keys *35 corresponding toy said chutes andl arranged' to be operated by said operator, means arranged to be operated by the actuation of any key for feeding the foremost card downwardlyl out of the magazine, the upper ends of said chutes beingvv arranged side by side in ap prOXiIrately the arc of .a circle and located below the forward end of the chute, a swing ingl distributor arranged to receive the cards as they are fed out of the-magazinef-and to deliver them to the chutes, said distributor being mounted to swing about a` horizontal axis across `and above the receiving ends of the chutes, and connections between said distributor and said keys whereby the operation of any keyJ toefeed a card also moves the distributor into position to guide said card into the chute corresponding to the key so 27. In acard sorting machine, the combination of'a magazine for holding a supply of`cards', aseries of keys, means for' feeding; said cards one at a time out of the magazine,

sorting-meansfor said cards, and mechanical connections arranged to be operated vby said keys for causing said sorting means to direct each card into a path determined by the particular keybperated.v

28 In a card'sorting machine, the com b'ination of a magazine for holding a supply of cards, a series of keys, means forfeeding said cards 'onevat a time out of the magazine, and sorting means mechanically connected with and controlled-by said keys 'for distributing said cards in accordance with the respective keys operated. a

2S). In a card sorting machine, the combination of aseries of plates arranged one above the other and spaced apart, side and end walls separate from said plates but cooperating With them to provide a series-of receptacles for receiving cards, and chut-es leading into the respective receptacles and said chutes into register with any selected chute whereby it is operative to deliver cards to the different chutes, said distributor consisting of two members mounted to swing toward and from each other and into and out of cooperative card guiding relationship, and said feeding means and said distributor' being under the control of said keys.

31. In a card sorting machine, the combination of a series of receptacles arranged adjacent to each other, chutes leading upwardly from said receptacles and having horizontal receiving ends located side by side, and a distributor mounted above said ends to swing across them intol register with any individual chute whereby it is operative to deliver a card to any selected chute, said distributor consisting of two open, frame-like members mounted to swing toward and'lroin each other into and out oi cooperative card guiding relationship.

GROSVENOR D. MARCY. 

